What's for dinner - the week before Christmas edition

[SilverBlueRabbit]

I'm trying to use up freezer items, pantry items and so forth before the expense and expanse of Christmas.

So tonight we are having a leftover platter (aka - 'mezzes' ) and will eat nice bread, salamis and cheeses, some pasta pesto salad, leftover avocado and tomato salad, grapes that need eating and tinned fruit and ice cream.

Tomorrow I am pulling out some pea and ham soup from the freezer and serving it Scandi style followed by jam pancakes.

I have some hidden vegetable creamy pasta sauce frozen so will turn that into a baked tortellini pasta along with the garlic naans that have been frozen.

I also have some smoked gammon in the freezer so will combine it with a jarred carbonara sauce and some chicken and make a pie. Probably Sunday which seems as good a day as any for pie.

what's on the agenda for others?

Just same as usual but you've made me crave tinned peaches and ice cream now!

I do need to clear a bit of freezer space as I'm making the braised red cabbage and cauliflower cheese in advance, makes life simpler

Oh good point about making and freezing cauliflower and cabbage. Yesterday I made a gravy to go with our meatballs and was planning to freeze that and use as a base.

Tinned peaches and vanilla ice cream was my pregnancy craving both times. It's also about the only fruit my very fussy older DS will eat. I do have tinned strawberries and am wondering about making a compote or jam tarts.

Spag bol tonight
Fish in sauce with cheesy gratin potatoes and peas tomorrow
Beef curry and rice on Friday
Sausages, mash and cabbage on Saturday
Something out of the freezer on Sunday
Slow cooked pork belly with home made coleslaw, apple sauce and bread rolls on Monday (daughter and toddler arrive for Christmas)
Fish pie and peas on Christmas Eve

All the meals prior to Monday are out of the freezer. In fact the pork belly, fish pie mix and the gammon I will be cooking on Boxing Day are also out of the freezer.

We’re not having anything too exciting as we have two fussy kiddos and have things to use up.

tonight- jacket potatoes with cheese (and tuna mayo, or coleslaw) and green salad

tomorrow- bacon and leek macaroni cheese

Friday- chicken curry (with spinach in) rice and naan breads

saturday- cheesy scrambled eggs, toast, fried mushrooms, baked beans.

Sunday- beef stew and dumplings (with bread for those that want it)

@SilverBlueRabbit tinned strawberries go in trifle in my house! I do have some home made strawberry compote I'm going to serve with good quality vanilla ice cream and meringues at Christmas though....

Oh I did not think of trifle! What a great idea!

I also have two hardish croissants so DH is getting a croissant bread and butter pudding for lunch. He has the bad cold that's going around so seems pleased at the idea.

DS1 (who is 14) has just the past few months come round to the idea of jacket potatos. I love them and am hoping he might accept a sort of cheesy bacony loaded jacket at some point.

I've got a Hello Fresh Box this week to mix it up a bit before Christmas. I've chosen some fairly simple recipes: a fish curry, a pesto pasta with tomatoes and peas, butternut squash bake thing, and a peanut stir fry.

I'm hosting a party at the weekend but am actually making a couple of big lasagne (meat and roasted pepper) with some nice Italian sides and antipasti.

Sunday will be salmon, New potatoes and broccoli. Monday is chili. Ordinary foods really before the rich foods begin.

Christmas eve we are breaking out the cheeseboard, and hot buffet items

Not much excitement here:
Eating out tonight
Freezer pizza tomorrow before drinking out
Eating out Friday
Steak Saturday with roasted veg (whatever needs eating up)
Chicken amatriciana tray bake on Sunday
Canapes at a drinks party on Monday
Shopping Mon or Tues so will get something for Christmas eve then.